Global Liquid Synthetic Rubber Market - 2023-2030

Market Overview

The global liquid synthetic rubber market reached US$ XX million in 2022 and is projected to record significant growth by reaching up to US$ XX million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of XX% during the forecast period (2023-2030).

Synthetic rubber is a man-made elastomer made of polymers derived from petroleum byproducts. Tires, door and window profiles, seals such as O-rings and gaskets, hoses, belts, matting and flooring are just a few of the applications for synthetic rubber in the automotive industry. Liquid synthetic rubber is a liquid polyurethane with improved flow properties and superior abrasion resistance. It is primarily used in industrial rubber manufacturing, tire manufacturing, polymer modification and adhesive production.

Global Liquid Synthetic Rubber Market Dynamics

Liquid synthetic rubber (LSR) is an alternative to natural rubber. Polymer compounds such as cis-1,4-polyisoprene, cis-1,4-polybutadiene and styrene are the prime raw materials used in rubber manufacturing. These high-viscosity synthetic rubbers are based on isoprene, butadiene and styrene and have major applications in the tire industry. Rising demand for automotive tires, growing demand for lightweight footwear and lower processing costs are some factors driving the growth of the liquid synthetic rubber market. Furthermore, using liquid synthetic rubber during the rubber compounding phase significantly reduces processing time while maintaining the rubber compounds' physical properties, thus reducing the product's processing costs and adding to the product's growth in developing regions. The increasing penetration of electric vehicles in the automotive market is also expected to drive the liquid synthetic rubber market. Since crude oil and its derivatives are used for the production of synthetic rubber, if crude oil prices rise, then rubber production costs will be on the higher side, which lowers the profitability margin for synthetic rubber manufacturers. Thus the factor mentioned above, the volatility in raw material prices, will constrain the growth of the liquid synthetic rubber market.

Increasing demand for tires across the globe

Liquid synthetic rubber is widely used in the production of tires because it increases tire performance and durability. It has also become more widely used as a result of tire labeling laws that were introduced. The synthetic rubber most frequently used in manufacturing tires are PBR and SBR. The primary application for polybutadiene is in the production of tires for automobiles. It is estimated that the production of tires consumes about 70% of the entire amount of polybutadiene.

Furthermore, liquid synthetic rubbers' main use is as a sidewall in tires, which lessens the damage caused by the continual bending when the tires are being driven. Butadiene is also utilized in several different auto parts for various functions. Thus, growing global demand for tires directly adds to the product's market growth.

For instance, According to information provided by the Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association (JATMA), 16.87 million tonnes of tires were produced globally in 2021, an increase of 9% compared to the previous year, 2020. China is the market leader, with almost 41.3% of the global tire market. China's growth in the tire sector is parallel to that of the auto market. By region, Asia-Pacific accounts for 70% of the global tire production; China and Japan, combined, hold 47% of the global tire production. However, the volatility in the price of raw materials might hamper the growth of the liquid synthetic rubber market.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

It has been witnessed that the COVID-19 outbreak has severely impacted the production and sales of liquid synthetic rubber. The governments of various nations have implemented strict lockdowns to stop the COVID-19 epidemic from spreading. The automotive sector was severely impacted due to restrictions across the world. Since 2019, regular automobile production has been hampered by declining sales, changing consumer preferences to EVs, shifting regulatory scenarios and moving toward car rentals and ridesharing in several countries. Furthermore, demand for automotive vehicles fell in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent suspension of manufacturing operations. As per Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles" (OICA), in 2019, automotive production fell by 5.2%, which further declined in 2020 during the pandemic. Global automobile production fell 15.8% in 2020 compared to 2019, which in turn hampered the growth of the liquid synthetic rubber market. Additionally, the ongoing demand for electric vehicles has contributed to the recovery from the incurred loss during the pandemic.

As per stats of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, even though the automotive sector in China initially declined due to COVID-19, vehicle production increased in March 2020 compared to March 2019 owing to the growing demand for new energy vehicles (electric and hybrid vehicles). Furthermore, COVID-19 has moderately impacted the Asia-Pacific synthetic rubber market.

Segment Analysis

The liquid synthetic rubber market is classified based on type, application and region.

The wide applicability of liquid isoprene rubber is gaining traction in the liquid synthetic rubber market

Owing to its excellent mechanical properties, isoprene rubber is the key choice material for many engineering applications. Anti-vibration mounts, drive couplings, tires, springs, bearings and adhesives are common applications. The majority of the manufactured IR and NR are used for tires. Liquid isoprene rubber (LIR) is a viscous liquid rubber that is nearly odorless, colorless and transparent. It acts as a reactive plasticizer. It is, in fact, the rubber with the highest molecular weight among those materials that can perform plasticizing functions. The application areas covered by liquid isoprene rubber are wide, leading to a boost in the market share for the segment to grow in the forecast period. The application range includes-

• Sealants in the automobile industry.
• Liquid isoprene rubber is also used in other applications like printing plates, coating, lubricants and binders.
• Adhesives include solution, crosslink, hot melt and latex.
• Rubber goods like a hose, footwear, tires, belts etc.

Furthermore, A significant portion of the Asia-Pacific liquid isoprene rubber market was accounted for by the rising consumption of liquid isoprene rubber in SIS block polymers for adhesive use. When combined with natural rubber, liquid isoprene rubber is a reactive plasticizer (NR). The substance is combined with NR to enhance the adhesive qualities of metals, such as the steel cord used in zinc-plated tires. Additionally, LIR serves as a reactive plasticizer and is vulcanizable with solid rubbers, enhancing processability with rubber compounds and is anticipated to fuel market growth over the projected period.

Geographical Analysis

Growth in the development of electric vehicles (EV) and NEVs in the Asia- Pacific market to propel the demand for liquid synthetic rubbers market

Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate over the forecast period, owing to the presence of top tire manufacturing companies, especially in China, India and Japan. Furthermore, the availability of affordable raw materials, low manufacturing cost and wide scope of application industries are expected to drive the regional market growth. For instance, China is the world's top manufacturer of raw ingredients, including butadiene, styrene, solvents, catalysts and synthetic rubber. The market is anticipated to be driven by the nation's rapidly expanding manufacturing sector, mostly comprised of the automotive and construction materials industries during the forecast period.

Furthermore, The largest automotive market in the world, China, accounts for over 30% of worldwide sales despite being hit by the pandemic at the beginning of 2020. In 2021, the total number of vehicles sold up to the end of September was 18.6 million ( + 8.7% YoY), with 2.2 million NEVs sold ( + 190% YoY), exceeding the total number of NEV sales for the entire year of 2020. The growing automotive sector of the region creates demand for the product to grow in the forecast period.

Competitive Landscape

The competitiveness in the market is very high as several global manufacturers and local players are operating in the product market. The liquid synthetic rubber key players are Evonik Industries AG, H.B. Fuller Company, Synthomer PLC, TER HELL & CO. GMBH, Nippon Soda Co., Ltd., JSR Corporation, Asahi Kasei Advance Corporation, LG Chem and Libratama Group. To gain a competitive advantage in the product market, leading manufacturers focus on various strategies such as mergers, acquisitions, new product launches and existing product development.

Evonik Industries AG

Overview: Evonik is a major specialty chemicals company active in over 100 nations around the globe. The company has segmented its industry into the following categories: nutrition & care, resource efficiency, performance materials and services. The company has production facilities in 27 countries in Africa, Asia, Australia / Oceania, Europe, North America and South America. The company manufactures oxo alcohols INA and 2-PH, which are important raw material components for manufacturing plasticizers and surfactants. Evonik offers its INA and 2-PH oxo alcohols with the following means of transportation: ISO containers, tank trucks, rail tank cars, barges, coasters and seagoing vessels.

Product Portfolio:

• POLYVEST ST SILANE TERMINATED LIQUID RUBBER: POLYVEST ST is a silane-modified liquid rubber additive of a new generation. It combines all the benefits of functional silanes and liquid rubbers. Its silane functionalities permit surface modification of hydrophilic silica fillers, improving silica dispersibility in rubber compounds. POLYVEST ST has a natural fit and excellent compatibility with the rubber matrix of tire compounds due to its rubber-based nature. Reduced compound viscosity and the Payne effect are the key features of POLYVEST.

Key Development:

• On June 22, 2022, POLYVEST eCO is a new line of sustainable liquid polybutadienes from Evonik's Coating & Adhesive Resins business. It has been demonstrated that using sustainably produced butadiene to manufacture this innovative product line reduces the utilization of fossil raw materials by up to 99.9%.

Why Purchase the Report?

• To visualize the global liquid synthetic rubber market segmentation based on type, application and region, as well as understand key commercial assets and players.
• Identify commercial opportunities in the global liquid synthetic rubber market by analyzing trends and co-development.
• Excel data sheet with numerous data points of liquid synthetic rubber market-level with all segments.
• PDF report consisting of cogently put together market analysis after exhaustive qualitative interviews and in-depth market study.
• Product mapping available as excel consisting of key products of all the major market players

The global liquid synthetic rubber market report would provide approximately 53 tables, 45 figures and 231 pages.

Target Audience 2023

• Manufacturers/ Buyers
• Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
• Research Professionals
• Emerging Companies